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Congress is in its August recess, but we will continue to provide intermittent updates on important legislative and regulatory developments as they emerge. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these remaining lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!

The Senate approved its version of the continuing resolution (CR) by a vote of 90-6, sending the legislation to negotiations with the House over differences between the two bills. Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Kaine (D-VA), Markey (D-MA), Paul (R-KY), Sanders (I-VT), and Warren (D-MA) voted against the measure. The Senate debate was prolonged by disagreements over…

The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general by a 50-49 vote, with two Republicans—Sens. Collins (R-ME) and Murkowski (R-AK) —joining Democrats in opposing his nomination.  Collins and Murkowski cited concerns about the political independence of the Justice Department. Collins argued that Blanche’s tenure as deputy attorney general had “further eroded the department’s independence,” while…

The U.S. labor market weakened unexpectedly in July, with employers cutting 23,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decline was significantly below expectations, as economists forecasted an increase of roughly 83,000 jobs. Despite the job losses, the unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%, compared with expectations that it would remain at 4.2%.…

Data centers are rapidly becoming the physical backbone of the artificial intelligence economy, but the massive, windowless facilities packed with servers are also emerging as a political liability in communities across the country. A Gallup poll earlier this year found that roughly seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of an AI data center in…

Two recent federal regulatory updates could have implications for employers and workers, particularly in industries with significant overtime activity and warehouse or distribution operations. What Employers Should Know: The two updates highlight the importance of employers staying current with federal regulatory guidance. For employers with significant overtime operations, the IRS guidance provides additional information on…

The House of Representatives recessed on July 23 and is scheduled to return to Washington on August 31. The Senate will adjourn for its August recess at the end of this week, although leadership may extend voting sessions into the weekend if additional time is needed to complete outstanding legislative priorities. Senators are not expected…

ASA, along with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and many similar associations including 112 members of Congress, urged U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to pursue a strong extension of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that strengthens North American competitiveness and addresses outstanding trade concerns. The bipartisan congressional effort was led by Rep. Yakym (R-IN),…

Congress is moving toward another short-term government funding measure as lawmakers work to avoid a shutdown while negotiations over Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations continue. On July 21, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 9770, legislation that would extend government funding at current levels from the end of the fiscal year on September 30 through December…

Congress is taking steps toward a potential third budget reconciliation package after the House of Representatives approved its Fiscal Year 2027 budget resolution on July 22.  The House passed H. Con. Res. 113, which would establish the framework for future reconciliation legislation by directing four House committees — Armed Services, Intelligence, Agriculture, and Administration —…